Dumping-platform



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

S. F. EVANS. DUMPING PLATFORM.

.No. 602,255; Patented Apr. 12, 1898.

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(No Model.) 2 Shets-Sheet 2.

S. F. EVANS.

DUMPING PLATFORM. No. 602,255.

1 llruTnn STATES a PATENT Trice.

SCOTT F. EVANS, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

.DUMPlNG-PLATFORM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent no. 602,255, dated April12, 1898.

Application filed August 31, 1897. Serial No. 650,091. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SCOTT F. EVANS, of the city of Minneapolis, countyof Hennepin,

State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inDumping- Platforms, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates in general to dumping-platforms such as aregenerally used in connection with grain elevators -to aid in discharginggrain from the wagons as it is brought to the elevator; and the primaryobject of the invention is to provide means for automatically lockingthe movable portion of the platform to prevent the same from beingsuddenly tilted and the operating mechanism broken or otherwise damagedby the sudden strain when a loaded wagon is driven onto thedumping-platform.

A further object is to provide a brake by means of which the operatorcan regulate or check entirely the movement of the tilting portion ofthe platform; and a still further object is to provide an improvedmechanism for moving the tilting portion of theplatform or returning thesame to its normal position.

Dumping platforms as heretofore constructed have not proved entirelysatisfactory for the reason that usually no provision is made forlocking the tilting track-timbers in a horizontal position toprevent'the weight of the loaded wagon when driven onto the platformfrom suddenly tilting the timbers and stripping the teeth from thegearing or otherwise seriously damaging the operating mechanism; and theessential feature of my invention relates to' mechanism for obviatingthis inconvenience and annoyance arising from the use of the ordinarydumping-platform.

To this end the invention consists in a stationary platform, the tiltingtimbers or platform supported thereby, means for tilting the same, and alocking device engagingsaid timbers to lock the same in a horizontalposition.

Further, the invention consists in means, for automatically returningsaid locklng de-' vice to its normal position afterthe operation ofdumping is completed.

Further, the invention consists in a friction device for controlling themechanism that 0perates the tilting timbers.

Further, the invent-ion consists in various constructions andcombinations, all as hereinafter described, and particularly pointed outin the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a dumping-platformembodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line so a: ofFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail showing one of the looking-arms or stops.Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the stops and the brackets supporting thesame. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the bracket or hanger shown inFig. 4. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the mechanism for operating thetilting platform. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the friction device forcontrolling the operating mechanism. Fig. 8 is'an edge view of Fig. 7.Fig.9 is a detail view of the rod for operating the stops. Figs. 10 and11 are details of the gear mechanism by means of which the tiltingportion of the platform is operated.

In the drawings, 2 represents the side walls surrounding the pit orspace beneath the dumping-platform; 3, the flooring around the edge ofthe platform over the timbers 4, and 5 and 6 transverse timbers arrangedat each end of the dumping-platform and by means of which the walls 2and flooring 3 are held firmly in position. The platform is alsoprovided with the longitudinal timbers 7 upon each side and with thesmallertimbers 8 and 9, arranged between the timbers 7 and the tiltingportion of the platform. Suitable timbers 10 are provided beneath thedumpingplatform, forming thefloor of the pit, and a receptacle isalsoprovided to receive the grain as it is discharged from the wagonwhen the platform is tilted. This receptacle, however, is well known andbeing in use generally I have not considered it necessary to show thesame in connection with my device. In the middle of the platform Iarrange the longitudinal timbers 13 and 14 parallel with the timbers 9and supporting the flooring 15.

The tilting portion of the platform com prises the track-timbers 11,arranged longitu- (linally in openings provided in the dumpingplatformbetween the timbers 9 and 13 and pivotally supported by the pins or rods12, which pass through the middle portion of the track-timbers and havetheir ends supported by the timbers 9 and 13. At one end of thetrack-timbers 11 I provide curved steel plates 16, which depend in acurve concentric with the pivotal center of the track-timbers, areprovided with a series of holes or openings 16, and are rigidly securedto said track-timbers by the brackets 17, bolted to the under side ofthe timbers. To support the operating mechanism beneath thedumping-platform, I provide the hangers or brackets 17 bolted to theunder side of the timbers 9 and 13 and provided at their lower ends withbearin gs for the horizontal transverse shaft 18. The shaft is alsosupported at one end by an upright standard 19, which extends up throughthe platform and supports the mechanism for operating the shaft 18.

Upon the shaft 18 I provide the sprocketwheels 20, having teeth to enterthe openings 16, and for locking the track-timbers in a horizontalposition I provide the arms orstops 21, pivotally secured to thebrackets 17 and arranged to swing to one side andengage the beveledunder surface and provided with pro- 3' ectin g arms or lugs 22, towhich the laterallyprojecting arms 23 on the operating-rod 24 are firmlyattached.

The operating rod 24 extends along beneath the platform parallel withthe shaft 18 and is pivotally connected at one end to an arm 24 on alever 25, that is in turn pivotally secured to the upright standard 19.The lever 25 is provided with weights 26 at one end, by means of whichthe stops 21 are normally held in engagement with the track-timbers 11,or a spring mechanism may be used, if desired.

To secure the standard 19 firmly in an upright position, I provide thebrace-rods 19, having one end secured to the dumping-platform and theother to the side of the standard. Beneath the platform I provide the angle-iron 19", bolted to the timbers of the platform and the side of thestandard, which when secured in this way is very rigid and prevents theoperating mechanism from getting out of alinement and permits theoperator to easily tilt the track-timbers, even though a heavilyloadedwagon be standing thereon.

On one side of the standard 19 I provide a vertically-moving rod 27, bymeans of which the lever 25 may be tilted by the foot of the operatorand the stops thrown out of engagement with the track-timbers 11whenever it is desired to unload a wagon.

At the upper end of the standard 19 I provide a shaft 28, mounted inbearings 29, ar-

ranged at the upper end of the head or block Between the sprocket-wheel31 and the hand-wheel 34 on the shaft 28 I provide a brake-wheel 35,over which passes a metal brake band or strap 39, provided at one endwith a block 40, having a threaded opening to receive the end of a screw37, which passes through the head 30, an integral bracket providedthereon, and also through an opening in the other end of the brake-band,said end being arranged on the screw between the integral bracket andhead and held in position thereon by the collar41. A hand-wheel 38 onthe end of the screw 37 permits the operator to turn the screw back andforth and set or loosen the brake mechanism whenever desired.

At the opposite end of the platform from the point where the operatingmechanism is arranged I provide guards 41, which close the openingbetween the platform and the track-timbers when the same are tilted andwhich prevent anything from interfering with the track-timbers when itis desired to return the same to their normal position. I also providethe timbers 9 and 13 with guides 42, which aid the operator in returningthe track-timbers 11 to their normal position when the operation ofdumping the wagon has been completed.

The operation of my improved platform is as follows: When the wagon isdriven onto the platform, the tilting timbers will be locked in ahorizontal position by stops 21, so that the weight of the loaded wagonWill not strip the teeth from the gears 20 or otherwise damage theoperating mechanism. As soon as the wagon has reached the properposition for dumping the operator will place his foot upon the upper endof the rod 27, depressing the lever 25 and throwing the stops 21 out ofengagement with the track-timbers 11. Then by means of the hand-wheel 34and the friction device the timbers with the wagon thereon may be tiltedto the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1 and the grainunloaded into the pit beneath the platform. As soon as the operation ofunloading is completed the operator allows the platform to return to itsformer horizontal position, and the weight 26 on the end of the lever 25will automatically throw the stops 21 into engagement with thetrack-timbers 11, and thereby prevent the platform from tilting untilsuch time as it is desired to unload another wagon.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. A dumping-platform, comprising a stationary part,a movable part pivotally supported thereby, mechanism for tilting saidmovable part, arms or stops to engage said movable part and lock thesame in a horizontal position, said arms or stops being transverselymovable with respect to said movable part, and means for disengagingsaid arms or stops from said movable part, substantially as described.

- and means supporting the same, of means for 2. In a dumping-platform,the combination, with the tilting portion of the platform, of means fortilting the same and returning it to its normal position, arms or stopsarranged to engage said tilting portion and transversely movable withrespect to the same, means connected with said arms for disengaging thesame from said tilting portion, and means for automatically returningsaid arms or stops to their normal position, substantially as described.

3. In a dumping-platform, the combination with the stationary platform,of the tilting track-timbers supported thereby, means for operatingthesame, the pivoted arms or stops arranged to engage saidtrack-timbers, and lock the same in a horizontal position, said arms orstops being movable transversely with respect to said timbers, means fordisengaging said arms or stops from said timbers, and means forautomatically returning said arms or stops to their normal positionafter the operation of dumping is completed, substantially as described.

4. The combination, in a dumping platform, with the stationary portion,of the pivoted track-timbers supported thereby, means for tilting thesame, the brackets secured beneath said stationary portion, the pivotedstops carried therebyand normally in en gagement with saidtrack-timbers, means for disengaging said stops from said track-timbers,and means for automatically returning the same to their normal position,substantially as described.

5. The combination, with the stationary.

platform, of the pivoted track-timbers and means for tilting the same,the brackets arranged beneath said platform, the pivoted stops carriedthereby and normally in engagement with said track-timbers, a rodconnecting said stops, a standard, a weighted lever pivotally connectedto said rod and said standard, and means carried by said standard foroperating said lever, for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination, with a tilting platform tilting said platform andreturning it to its normal position, and means operating laterally withrespect to said platform for locking it in a horizontal position andpermitting it to tilt when unlocked, substantially as described.

7. The combination, with a tilting platform and means supporting thesame, of means for tilting said platform and returning it to its,

normal position, and pivoted stops transversely movable with respect tosaid platform for locking it in a horizontal position and permitting itto tilt when unlocked, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with the platform, of the tilting track-timbers, themechanism for tilting the same, the brake-wheel provided in connectionwith said mechanism, the strap or band passing over the same, the heador block supporting said brake-wheel and the screw carried by said headand passing through openings provided in the ends of said strap or band,substantially as described.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination with the uprightstandard, of the head or block carried thereby, the shaft mounted inbearings in said head, the brake- Wheel arranged upon said shaft, thebracket 36, the screw 37, the strap or band passing over saidbrake-Wheel, said strap having one endattached to said screw and itsopposite end provided with a block having a threaded opening to receivethe same, and the collar 41 ported beneath said platform, pivoted stopscarried thereby normally in engagement with said platform to lock thesame in a horizontal position, means for simultaneously disengaging saidstops from said platform and means for automatically returning saidstops to their normal position, substantially as described.

11. The combination, with a tilting platform and means supporting thesame, of means for tilting said platform and returning it to its normalposition, pivoted stops operating laterally with respect to saidplatform for locking the same in a horizontal position, means fordisengaging said stops to permit the tilting of said platform, and'meansfor automatically returning said stops to their normal position,substantially as described.

12. The combination, with a stationary platform, of the pivotedtrack-timbers, and means for tilting the same, the hangers or bracketsarranged beneath said platform, the pivoted stops carried thereby andnormally in engagement with said track-timbers, means connecting saidstops to simultaneously disengage the same from said timbers, and meansfor returning said stops to their normal position, substantiallyasdescribed.

13. The combination, with a stationary platform, of pivotedtrack-timbers and means for tilting the same, hangers or brackets,

